British spies will help "find and dismantle" terror groups involved in the
Algerian hostage crisis, David Cameron has said, as he pledged the fight of
a generation against Islamist extremism

The Prime Minister warned north Africa is fast becoming a "magnet" for jihadists, as he confirmed at least 37 people died at the hands of terrorists at In Amenas gas plant in Algeria last week.

He said three British people are known to have died and three more are missing, presumed dead, as a result of the "despicable" hostage crisis.

In an update for MPs in the House of Commons, Mr Cameron said Britain must fight Islamist extremism with "the same resolve" as previous generations, such as those who fought the Second World War.

"We must frustrate the terrorists with our security, beat them militarily, address the poisonous narrative they feed on, close down the ungoverned space in which they thrive, and deal with the grievances they use to garner support.

"This is the work that our generation faces. we must demonstrate the same resolve and sense of purpose as previous generations have in the challenges they faced in this House and in this country."

The Prime Minister said most terror threats used to come from Iraq and Afghanistan, but many more are now coming from Yemen, Somalia and north African countries .

"To date, the threat it poses has been to these North African states themselves and, of course, to Western interests in those states," he said.

"But as it escalates it is also becoming a magnet for jihadists from other countries who share this poisonous ideology.

"Indeed there are already reports of non-Algerian nationals involved in this attack."

Mr Cameron said the Government would "look again at the diplomatic resources we have in the part of the world," which could include boosting Britain's spy networks in these areas.

"We will contribute British intelligence and counter-terrorism assets to an international effort to find and dismantle the network that planned and ordered the brutal assault at In Amenas. We must work right across the region," he said.

He said it would be crucial to work with regional powers such as Nigeria, Libya and Mali, where the French are currently helping its government fight Islamist terrorists.

He backed those who have criticised news outlets, including the BBC, for calling some Islamist extremists "militants", rather than terrorists.

William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, this morning admitted Britain has "limited diplomatic resources" in areas of north-west Africa, where France was the former colonial power.

The 22 surviving Brits caught up in the terrorist attack have now been safely returned to Britain. They are being debriefed by the police before being reunited with their families.

The Prime Minister said most of the hostage takers died in the incident but a small number are now in custody in Algeria. Mr Cameron said there is no evidence yet that any of the terrorists were British, amid new reports that the attack was co-ordinated by a Canadian.

Despite originally expressing dismay that Britain was not forewarned of Algeria's military efforts to free the hostages, he today paid tribute to the country's actions.

"I am sure the House will understand the challenges that Algeria faced in dealing with over 30 terrorists bent on killing innocent people in a large and extremely remote and dangerous industrial complex," he said.

"This would have been a most demanding task for security forces anywhere in the world and we should acknowledge the resolve shown by the Algerians in undertaking it."

Mr Cameron said he spoke to the Algerian prime minister around six times during and after the crisis.